Question NW2387 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
12 September 2017 - NW2387
Purdon, Mr RK to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)With reference to recent media reports (details furnished) relating to the arrest and detention of a certain person at the Kruger National Park (KNP) (name and details furnished) who has been linked to a rhino poaching syndicate, (a) what is the current status of the specified person’s employment at the KNP, (b) what position(s) has the specified person held at the KNP and (c) which access gates was the specified person assigned to; (2) has the specified person been linked to any incidents or cases of rhino poaching or any other type of poaching; if so, what are the relevant details in this regard; (3) has the specified person been formally charged; if so, on what grounds; if not, why not; (4) is the specified person still living at the KNP; if so, why?
Reply:
1. (a) The employee is currently suspended from work pending an investigation related to the theft and unauthorised possession of the South African National Parks’ (SANParks) property;
(b) The employee held the position of Security Supervisor since 1999; and
(c) The employee was assigned to both Phabeni and Numbi Gates.
2. The investigation is still on-going but has not as yet established or confirmed whether the employee is linked to any involvement in rhino poaching or any other type of poaching activity.
3. The employee has been formally charged according to SANParks’ Disciplinary Code on matters related to theft of SANParks’ property. He has also been formally charged by the South African Police Service for being in possession of ammunition and suspected stolen property. He is currently out on bail pending his criminal case.
He was found in possession of the following items:
(a) SANPARKS property consisting of
- operational uniforms (greens) and accessories, shirts, trousers, bush jackets, boots, stable belts, caps, jerseys and socks.
- SA Police Services uniforms, trousers, shirts, caps, stable belt, boots along with a blue strobe light;
- 240 rolls of toilet paper, an aluminium ladder, a black dustbin and a 48kg gas bottle;
(b) Unlicensed ammunition belonging to an unknown owner consisting of
- fifteen x 9mm parabellum rounds, 2 x 9mm sort rounds, one 9.25 mm round, thirty four 5.56 mm rounds, a R5 magazine and a 9mm magazine.
(4) The employee is currently suspended from work and is residing outside the park until his internal disciplinary hearing is held
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